Kevin Gullufsen

Juneau James Gang’s Al Tagaban, right, and Greg Huebschen try to contain Yakutat’s Martin Sensmeier during their C Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Baseketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

On Hollywood and the hardwood: Martin Sensmeier talks basketball, movies

Though now a Hollywood star, Yakutat native and Gold Medal regular Martin Sensmeier didn’t expect a red carpet at the Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball… Continue reading

Juneau James Gang’s Al Tagaban, right, and Greg Huebschen try to contain Yakutat’s Martin Sensmeier during their C Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Baseketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Nineteen high school teens from across the state, from Utqiagvik to Ketchikan, hold a March for Salmon as the culmination of this year’s Civics and Conservation Summit in Juneau, on Friday, March 17, 2017. The event is hosted by Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a program of The Alaska Center in Anchorage, which trains young people to be environmental leaders. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Emerging voters: ‘We want salmon!’

Millennials: self-centered, glued to their phones and unable to focus on anything longer than a six-second gif. Alaska’s youth know how to turn that stereotype… Continue reading

Nineteen high school teens from across the state, from Utqiagvik to Ketchikan, hold a March for Salmon as the culmination of this year’s Civics and Conservation Summit in Juneau, on Friday, March 17, 2017. The event is hosted by Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a program of The Alaska Center in Anchorage, which trains young people to be environmental leaders. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Fireside Lecture: Yax té Totem pole

An iconic Tlingit totem pole has been restored and will resume its role this summer. Friday’s Fireside Lecture at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center tells… Continue reading

Dawn Jouppi shovels snow in front of her North Douglas Highway house on Monday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

No snow day after overnight storm

How much snow must fall to keep a Juneau kid from hitting the books? The short answer: more than a foot in a night. The… Continue reading

Dawn Jouppi shovels snow in front of her North Douglas Highway house on Monday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
A Wings of Alaska plane takes off from the Juneau International Airport on July 18, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Wings of Alaska closes up shop

Wings of Alaska has folded. The Juneau-headquartered regional airline hasn’t flown for several weeks and has now officially shuttered, managing partner Aldwin Harder said by… Continue reading

A Wings of Alaska plane takes off from the Juneau International Airport on July 18, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sweetheart Lake hydroelectric gets waterfront lease

The company behind a planned hydroelectric dam 37 miles southeast of Juneau checked a crucial regulatory box this week. Juneau Hydropower Inc., the company behind… Continue reading

Finalists announced for Auke Bay principal

The Juneau School District announced Tuesday their five finalists for an open principal position at Auke Bay Elementary School. The community is invited to meet… Continue reading

Gov.’s budget plan at Chamber luncheon

Budget experts presenting at Thursday’s Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon will shed light on Gov. Bill Walker’s fiscal plan. Pat Pitney, the State Budget Director… Continue reading

Free AWARE training geared toward men

Gene Tagaban and Juneau AWARE (Aiding Women in Abuse & Rape Emergencies) are teaming up to help young men and their mentors end male violence… Continue reading

Peter Edillor fishes off the rocks at False Outer Point for king salmon in April 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Spring king fishing canceled by emergency order

Local sport fishers won’t be able to get their early-season king salmon fix as the Juneau area will be closed for king salmon fishing from… Continue reading

Peter Edillor fishes off the rocks at False Outer Point for king salmon in April 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
The Tulsequah Chief Mine is seen on Sept. 26, 2016. The yellow water is Acidic Mine Drainage from shuttered mine adits. It drains into an “exfiltration pond,” pictured, which overflows into the Tulsequah River. (Courtesy Photo)

Toxic water leaches into prime Alaska, Canada salmon habitat

The year the Tulsequah Chief Mine began polluting Alaska waters, a gallon of gas cost 31 cents, baseball great Jackie Robinson announced his retirement and… Continue reading

The Tulsequah Chief Mine is seen on Sept. 26, 2016. The yellow water is Acidic Mine Drainage from shuttered mine adits. It drains into an “exfiltration pond,” pictured, which overflows into the Tulsequah River. (Courtesy Photo)

Caught in an Avalanche

A beautiful, sunny day on the mountain turned into a mountain rescue emergency Saturday as an avalanche swept up and injured a snowboarder at Eaglecrest… Continue reading

Jodie Pessolano takes advantage of recent snow to ski along Front Street on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau weather forecast: Sun after snow

A cold and sunny weekend awaits after a winter storm ended the work week in Juneau. The National Weather Service forecasts a drop in temperature… Continue reading

Jodie Pessolano takes advantage of recent snow to ski along Front Street on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Rock Dump building, owned by Alaska Coach Tours since 2012, has been rented by the nonprofit Juneau Climbing & Recreation. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rock Dump climbing gym on the move after sweetheart lease runs course

The Rock Dump indoor climbing gym is en route to a new home. Where that route ends, gym operators don’t know. In a Jan. 6… Continue reading

The Rock Dump building, owned by Alaska Coach Tours since 2012, has been rented by the nonprofit Juneau Climbing & Recreation. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
BaconFest winners from the Sandpiper Cafe, Breeze-In, V’s Cellar Door and Coconut Thai Cuisine pose for a photo after winning awards at Saturday’s cook-off at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Photo courtesy Mandy Massey | Glacier Valley Rotary)

Sticky buns, donuts and wraps: BaconFest rewards the bold

Glacier Valley Rotary’s 2017 BaconFest sold out again this year. Not one of the 350 attendees had a heart attack on site. The event pits… Continue reading

BaconFest winners from the Sandpiper Cafe, Breeze-In, V’s Cellar Door and Coconut Thai Cuisine pose for a photo after winning awards at Saturday’s cook-off at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Photo courtesy Mandy Massey | Glacier Valley Rotary)

Fireside Lecture: “Coping with Weather”

Juneau naturalist Bob Armstrong is the Fireside Lecturer on Friday, Feb. 24 at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. His presentation, “Coping with Weather,” highlights wild animal’s… Continue reading

Coppa owner Marc Wheeler hands out his candied salmon ice cream at the Symphony of Seafood event Wednesday at Centennial Hall. Wheeler’s ice cream took home the competition’s grand prize.

Candied salmon ice cream, kelp salsa & halibut bisque baby food: Seafood contest shows off the new and unusual

In any supermarket, you’ll find dozens of pork, beef and chicken products. Not so for salmon. When it comes to sockeye, king or coho, U.S.… Continue reading

Coppa owner Marc Wheeler hands out his candied salmon ice cream at the Symphony of Seafood event Wednesday at Centennial Hall. Wheeler’s ice cream took home the competition’s grand prize.

Downtown Restaurant Week validates Juneau’s growing food scene

Kimchi, duck ramen and khekda bharjiya. You couldn’t find any of these on a Juneau menu five years ago, yet with a burgeoning food scene… Continue reading

225;di), a Tlingit Eagle of the Killerwhale Clan, won the title on Feb. 4 and will now contend in the Miss USA Competition. London is the first Tlingit to hold the Miss Alaska USA title. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Miss Alaska 2017 talks Tlingit heritage and digital entrepreneurship

She’s a Tlingit Eagle of the Killerwhale clan and a digital advertising expert, a Stanford grad, former Microsoft marketing wiz and entrepreneur. This year’s Miss… Continue reading

225;di), a Tlingit Eagle of the Killerwhale Clan, won the title on Feb. 4 and will now contend in the Miss USA Competition. London is the first Tlingit to hold the Miss Alaska USA title. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Alayna Duncan, 14, is the youngest elected offical in the Alaska Native Sisterhood attending the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day ceremony in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Elizabeth Peratrovich’s example still shines for young and old

Seventy-two years ago this month, Elizabeth Peratrovich stood before the Alaska Senate and told a room full of white men what real savagery looks like.… Continue reading

Alayna Duncan, 14, is the youngest elected offical in the Alaska Native Sisterhood attending the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day ceremony in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)